IDF Denies Responsibility for Palestinian Boy’s Death; U.S. Calls for Investigation

By Hamodia Staff

YERUSHALAYIM — The United States called for a “thorough and immediate” investigation into the death of a 7-year-old Palestinian boy on Thursday, after the Israeli military said a preliminary probe found that it had no connection with the incident.

“The U.S. is heartbroken to learn of the death of an innocent Palestinian child,” deputy State Department spokesperson Vedant Patel said at a press briefing. “We support a thorough and immediate investigation into the circumstances surrounding the child’s death.”

The IDF earlier, following a preliminary probe of the incident, denied any connection to the death of a 7-year-old Palestinian boy during an army search in a Palestinian town near Beit Lechem on Thursday.

The Palestinian Authority Health Ministry said that Rayan Suleiman fell from an unspecified height after being chased by soldiers near the town of Tuqu’. The boy’s uncle, Muhammed Suleiman, told Haaretz that he “had a heart attack” after Israeli troops arrived at the family’s home.

The soldiers had entered the town looking for people who threw rocks at passing Israeli vehicles earlier in the day, a common occurrence in the area.

A military source told The Times of Israel that an IDF officer questioned the young boy’s father at their home. Troops also questioned several other Palestinian parents over their children’s alleged involvement in the stone-throwing.

The IDF said there were no clashes amid the searches, and troops did not deploy any riot-control measures.